Audi Q3 : Official Review

This is a discussion on Audi Q3 : Official Review within Official New Car Reviews, part of the Team-BHP Reviews category; Check out my initial ownership review of Q3 premium plus edition here .
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Anup...

Just got an email from Audi saying bookings for the Q3S are now open again.

Yes the Q3 S edition is open again but I find it stripped down like anything. It costs 35L and has no Auto Ac, No Automatic transmission only 6 speed manual, Reduced power of 140BHP, No Wood Inserts, no Sunroof, No DRL and no option of fixing them, No LED Package, Simple Alloys. IMO 35L can fetch much better cars than just a car with an Audi Batch!!

If one is planning to use the car for long trips in remote areas albeit still on the highways, hence no need for an off-roader, wouldn't a spare wheel be handy.

Run flat tires would be a big risk because it effectively means that if you have a flat, you end up buying a new tyre because you may not find a mechanic or puncture shop for miles

Quote:

Originally Posted by amansanc

Well you answered your question yourself. The BMW X1 would always excite you more when you drive the car. It has more features and also BMW service packages should make it relatively less expensive to maintain.
I agree with you that the AUDI Q3 looks better. But the driving pleasure of BMW X1 would make you forget the looks

I would also suggest you to have a look at the BMW 3GT and the BMW 3 series.

Although discounts vary from city to city, but you can still expect some very good discounts from both the brands. Discounts to the tune of 3-4 lakhs are easy. You can negotiate for accesories and service packages too. And in case the cars are 2013 manufactured, then you can squeeze more discounts.

If one is planning to use the car for long trips in remote areas albeit still on the highways, hence no need for an off-roader, wouldn't a spare wheel be handy.

Run flat tires would be a big risk because it effectively means that if you have a flat, you end up buying a new tyre because you may not find a mechanic or puncture shop for miles

Runflat tyres are not that big an issue.
In case the car would be majorly used for long highway trips, then it is an issue. Otherwise for occasional highway trips, one can buy a space saver tyre and carry it during highway trips for peace of mind. In the city, it can be stored at home.
And even run flat tyre puncture can be repaired like a tubeless tyre in most cases.

How would a spare wheel without any dock look like in the boot of a 35 lakhs car? Shouldn't the company provide the same as standard rather than saving the cost of a spare in an expensive car which would most probably be the first luxury vehicle for many.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amansanc

Runflat tyres are not that big an issue.
In case the car would be majorly used for long highway trips, then it is an issue. Otherwise for occasional highway trips, one can buy a space saver tyre and carry it during highway trips for peace of mind. In the city, it can be stored at home.
And even run flat tyre puncture can be repaired like a tubeless tyre in most cases.

How would a spare wheel without any dock look like in the boot of a 35 lakhs car? Shouldn't the company provide the same as standard rather than saving the cost of a spare in an expensive car which would most probably be the first luxury vehicle for many.

I agree with your point. They should have provided a spare wheel. But since they haven't, one can only look for alternatives.
Look at the positive side. Run-Flat tyres are a lot more safer in case of a tyre blowout.

Anyways this discussion is off-topic on this thread. This discussion can be done on many of the BMW threads on the forum.

If one is planning to use the car for long trips in remote areas albeit still on the highways, hence no need for an off-roader, wouldn't a spare wheel be handy.

Run flat tires would be a big risk because it effectively means that if you have a flat, you end up buying a new tyre because you may not find a mechanic or puncture shop for miles

Run flats are a boon not a risk. They are very safe and give you a peace of mind. For really remote trips get a space saver tyre. Besides changing tyres on your own is a thing of past with tubeless tyres.You just have to keep a tyre gauge and a pump and fill up the moment it goes below the limit reach the puncture guy and get the needful done..
You have a warning light in there with the runflat indicator. In more than 10 years of ownership I have never changed a tyre in 5 of my cars and used tyre pumps in all of them. And these are usual cars with no special indicators apart from an X1. Basically you don't need a spare tyre unless it gets badly cut. And when that happens your life has been just saved with the runflat. The usual tyre would burst and give you a potential accident.

Run flats are a boon not a risk. They are very safe and give you a peace of mind. For really remote trips get a space saver tyre. Besides changing tyres on your own is a thing of past with tubeless tyres.You just have to keep a tyre gauge and a pump and fill up the moment it goes below the limit reach the puncture guy and get the needful done..
You have a warning light in there with the runflat indicator. In more than 10 years of ownership I have never changed a tyre in 5 of my cars and used tyre pumps in all of them. And these are usual cars with no special indicators apart from an X1. Basically you don't need a spare tyre unless it gets badly cut. And when that happens your life has been just saved with the runflat. The usual tyre would burst and give you a potential accident.

I would second that position. A big advocate of Run Flats, I share my experience with my BMWs since 2006. My X3 is the third BMW since I moved into the BMW family in November 2006.

Have done Delhi-Jaisalmer, Delhi-Manali, Delhi-Lucknow & Delhi-Renukoot. Trust me, did not carry a space saver or a spare wheel.

Have had a few punctures here & there. Got them repaired at any tyre walla. 30 to 50 bucks per hole to repair.

Once I had a tyre burst in Agra. Took the car to an MRF dealer. Requested to remove the tyre off the rim. Got it repaired at the adjoining truck tyre repair shop (that with sign indicating 'yahan thandi rubber chadhti hai'). It took 4 ours for curing and I was mobile. It is another matter that BMW's roadside assistance mechanic delivered a replacement overnight.

The biggest peace of mind comes from the fact that I do not need to stop on strange roads and at odd hours that too with my wife and kid.

Hey guys,,just got the delivery of my Audi Q3 Premium plus..Enjoying the car pretty much,can see people turning heads and whispering to each other..
Great feeling.. But,have noticed that the wipers dint come on when it reined briefly here in Delhi last night..
Any,idea how i turn on the auto wipers??
note: attaching a pic for my fellow BHPians..

We have booked a 2014 Audi Q3 2.0TDI Premium Plus for 39.xx OTR (NCR) to beat the May price hike. Being offered an A6 2.0 TDI Business Edition for 42.xx. Reckon it's worth the extra dough? Will be losing out on the Quattro, Panaromic sunroof, 7 speed DSG transmission, higher seating position but gaining in terms of space and niceties such as Audi Drive Select, rear and side window curtains, 4 zone air conditioning etc ala and more importantly massive boot space and leg room!